Mobile menu
PCB Design
Resources PCB Design PCBs from Space to Snow Plowing OnTrack Newsletter February 2018

PCBs from Space to Snow Plowing OnTrack Newsletter February 2018

Judy Warner
|  Created: February 26, 2018  |  Updated: September 25, 2020
 
Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  Youtube
 
 
On Track Newsletter
February 2018 VOL. 1 No 11
 

Welcome to the February edition of the Altium® On Track Newsletter. There is justifiable concern in our industry about where the next generation of PCB designers will come from. Estimates show that in approximately ten years, 50% of currently working PCB designers will be retiring—which is an alarming statistic!

Since joining Altium exactly one year ago, I have seen overwhelming evidence from around the globe of emerging designers and technologies that are indeed giving rise to the next generation.

In this month’s edition, you will find two such examples. In Rock Stars and Superheroes, you will meet James MacKinnon who just joined NASA 18 months ago after a stellar experience in an NSF-funded laboratory during his master’s program at the University of Florida.

In Startup Snapshot, you’ll hear about a new and novel robotics application that was inspired in part by kids in the FIRST robotics competitions.

John Magyar takes to the whiteboard once again in On Track Video Series to discuss embedded active and passive components.

Finally, we top it all off this month with some excellent Brain Food and Regional News to keep you sharp and in the know.

Enjoy and always...stay On Track!

Director of Community Engagement
 
 
 
Highlighting Exceptional PCB Designers
 
James MacKinnon always dreamed of working at NASA. He was inspired at a young age by his dad (and fellow EE), as well as countless space shuttle launches he would watch from his backyard in Jacksonville, Florida. After working on CubeSats in an NSF-funded research center and completing his master’s degree at the University of Florida, he got snatched up by NASA just 18 months ago. In this interview, MacKinnon describes his unconventional path to NASA which all began at a dead-end job at Sears.
 
 
 
Highlighting Intriguing Electronics-based Startups
 
Left Hand Robotics was founded in 2016 in Longmont, Colorado. The company was created to design commercial-class robots that help companies by reducing the cost of labor-intensive snow clearing. The founders were inspired by their involvement in FIRST Robotics and their disdain for continually shoveling snow from their own sidewalks and driveways. In this interview, I talk with EE Shane Zinner about the multi-function board he designed that powers the Snowbot. He also shares the source of their unique name and how they are helping commercial companies address the persistent need to keep their facilities and surroundings free of snow.
 
 
 
Embedded Components: Actives and Passives
 
John Magyar returns to the whiteboard to discuss embedded components.
 
 
 
 
 
Altium Designer - PCB Design Software Altium 365 - PCB Design Platform Enterprise PCB Design Solutions FREE Trials

About Author

About Author

Judy Warner has held a unique variety of roles in the electronics industry for over 25 years. She has a background in PCB Manufacturing, RF and Microwave PCBs and Contract Manufacturing, focusing on Mil/Aero applications. 

She has also been a writer, blogger, and journalist for several industry publications such as Microwave Journal, PCB007 Magazine, PCB Design007, PCD&F, and IEEE Microwave Magazine, and an active board member for PCEA (Printed Circuit Engineering Association). In 2017, Warner joined Altium as the Director of Community Engagement. In addition to hosting the OnTrack Podcast and creating the OnTrack Newsletter, she launched Altium's annual user conference, AltiumLive. Warner's passion is to provide resources, support, and advocate for PCB Design Engineers worldwide.

More content by Judy Warner

Related Resources

What is Lenz's Law What is Lenz's Law and How Does it Affect PCB Design? Lenz's law is one of the fundamental physical laws that describes the multitude of relationships between electricity and magnetism. Together with Ampere's law, Gauss law, Faraday's law, Coulomb's law, and the Lorentz force law, we have everything we need to understand the classical behavior of the electromagnetic field. Among these laws, Lenz's law and Faraday's law work together to describe how the magnetic field in your PCB is related to the Read Article
What is a balun What is a Balun in RF PCB and Do You Need One? Are you wondering what a balun is? Find out more and see where one fits into your RF PCB layout. Read Article
pcb testing PCB Testing 101: Important Methods and Metrics PCB testing must occur during fabrication, assembly, and board bring-up. Here’s how you can plan to be successful during testing and inspection. Read Article
Continuous conduction mode Continuous Conduction Mode in an SMPS: What is it and Why it Matters Learn more about continuous conduction mode and how to design to this condition in your power supply. The best design and simulation tools can help you verify continuous conduction mode is reached. Read Article
Everything You Need to Know About Oscillators What Is An Oscillator? Everything You Need to Know What is an oscillator? Mark Harris gives an in depth overview of the major categories of Oscillators. He explains the different types with their functions and drawbacks. Read more here. Read Article
Solder Bridge Jumper Best Practices in PCB Design What Is a Solder Bridge? Best Practices in PCB Design A PCB variant is often simply thought of as a new layout created from an old design. However, if you’re creative with your routing and layout, you can use a solder bridge jumper to configure portions of a single PCB layout for multiple variants. This lets you quickly create variants of a PCB layout without rerouting traces or changing your schematics. If you plan to use jumpers in your PCB layout, there are some important guidelines to follow to Read Article
ESD protection and PCB design What is ESD and How Does it Affect My PCB Design? We've compiled a complete guide to ESD protection for PCBs and your electronics. Implement these guidelines for enclosure-level ESD protection and to prevent ESD on important digital interfaces. Read Article
What is PCB Design? What is a PCB and Intro to PCB Design Printed circuit board (PCB) design has grown into its own specialized field within the electronics industry. PCBs play an important role in that they provide electrical interconnections between electronic components, rigid support to hold components, and a compact package that can be integrated into an end product. They are the main component in an electronic device that is responsible for form and function, and they allow advanced semiconductors Read Article
1:19 What is Concurrent Engineering? Watch Video
1:39 What is MLH's Student Demographic? Watch Video
Back to Home
Altium Designer Logo

Take advantage of the world's
most trusted PCB design system.

One interface. One data
model. Endless possibilities.

Effortlessly collaborate with
mechanical designers.

The world's most trusted
PCB design platform

Best in class interactive
routing

View License Options
Try Altium Designer
Which best describes you?
Step 1 of 2
Try Altium Designer
Which best describes you?
I’m a Professional
I’m a Student University Email Required
I’m a Startup
Thank you, you are now subscribed to updates.